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Travel Inspiration

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Gap Year

<h3>What inspired you to travel abroad?</h3>
<p>I have always loved to travel and this opportunity gave me the chance to explore places I have never been before. I also wanted to travel while I was young because I might never get the opportunity to do this again in the future. EF also intrigues me, I love the places they go and what they do.</p>
<h3>Why did you choose <a href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/education-first-gap-year rel="" target="_self" class="link"><ins>EF Gap Year</ins></a>?</h3>
<p>My parents and family are from Europe and it was nice to explore the places I’ve been told about. I had already been to England and Ireland, but everywhere else I had not been.</p>
<p>Now I know more cities and towns that I want to go see. Also, I want to explore even more because I was not able to go to certain places that I wanted to go to.</p>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/interviews/YE1jgKi1Fxn15bUm4bILa4R4YhZXxl1SWLeC0SpX.jpg" alt="Gelato"><div class="caption"><p>Can we do this every day? I enjoyed eating delicious gelato while in Rome, Italy.</p></div></div>
<h3>What was your favorite part about your host country/city?</h3>
<p>Every country was different in their own way. Every place we stayed in had fun excursions and easy access to transportation which took us to explore more on our own time.</p>
<p>We had a lot of freedom where we could go to different places where we might never have gone. Such as museums, tours, towns, and even other cities for a day. Each place we stayed in had so much culture in it that I have a fond memory in each.</p>
<h3>What made your experience abroad extraordinary?</h3>
<p>The people and the amazing views made my experience extraordinary. I have seen so many things in pictures but being there in person makes your eyes big and just in awe of the whole place.</p>
<p>Sometimes it did not feel real to be there, looking at all the beauty. The group that I was with made every place special. We all had a connection from the start and it grew even more throughout the trip. I could not ask for better people to go travel the world with.</p>
<h3>How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?</h3>
<p>We had the most amazing Tour Director and Student Life Coordinator. They were with us day by day helping us and showing us what Europe has to give. They made us feel heard and welcomed the whole time.</p>
<p>Our advisor in Boston who visited us in England always made sure to let us know that she was there for us. I always felt like I could go to these three people for literally anything. Especially the Student Life Coordinator Helen, she and I are very close in age and we understood each other to a level where we got super close and are friends.</p>
<h3>Did <a href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/education-first-gap-year rel="" target="_self" class="link"><ins>EF Gap Year</ins></a> specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, tell us what kind of support you received.</h3>
<p>Yes, they helped with providing us information to stay healthy throughout our trip. If we ever needed someone to talk to or we got sick and needed medical help, caraway is a great app that we all found useful. We all get sick no matter where we are, and when abroad we need to be able to get help about anything.</p>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/interviews/SlciBODMb8FnKp4IAbb9adhHaKZ1HRuUdM4A9SY0.jpg" alt="Oxford streets"><div class="caption"><p>I loved walking down the Oxford streets in London, United Kingdom. It was brilliant! </p></div></div>
<h3>How did your program help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?</h3>
<p>We all learned that if we ever felt sick, to tell someone. Not to let us get worse. There are resources that we can use abroad to help us get better. No one wants to be sick abroad.</p>
<p>Personally I got sick abroad and I was wanting my mom. I FaceTimed here and just listening to her voice helps me think better. I am also glad that I applied for EF travel health insurance just in case because I might have needed to get medicine.</p>
<h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?</h3>
<p>I wish I would have gone out more. The free days that we had I did take advantage of them as mental health days. Which is something I definitely needed to charge back up. But I wish I had gone on those excursions with some of my friends instead of staying behind.</p>
<p>I was worried about money and overall I should have not. This is a once in a lifetime experience and memories that last forever. Money always comes back.</p>
<h3>Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.</h3>
<p>Usually we would start our day with breakfast, and then get ready for the day. We might have one to three things to do depending on the day. We would travel together to our destination and either have a tour or go to a museum.</p>
<p>It was all different. Then after our adventures, we might have some free time to explore before dinner. We would all go to dinner together and talk about what we did that day together.</p>
<h3>What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?</h3>
<p>I enjoyed the freedom of doing anything I wanted to do. Some days were sleeping in and watching Netflix all day, some were refreshing and going out for lunch or dinner. Some days we would go to monuments that we wouldn’t have gone to on the itinerary.</p>
<p>We always had some ideas to go out and find things that seemed interesting. Whether it be all day or for the evening.</p>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/interviews/Exm856eAoIeYv3mH6EeeWWSpNYY0nKsB5IW03OKd.jpg" alt="Eiffel tower."><div class="caption"><p>Two friends and I were in front of the Eiffel Tower while visiting Paris, France.</p></div></div>
<h3>What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?</h3>
<p>We had hostels and hotels. Some hotels had three to a room and hostels were more like four to six. I enjoyed the hostels because there were so many of us and we all had stuff to talk about.</p>
<p>We bonded more than we would have daily. We lived together and it’s during the times where we relax where we can just really be ourselves.</p>
<h3>What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?</h3>
<p>Do not worry. Everything happens for a reason and you are on this trip for a reason. Whether you know what it is or not.</p>
<p>I was worried about the people I was going on the trip with and money. I got so close to people within the first three days, before we even got to Europe. And money, I worried that I would run out but honestly the memories I made when I didn’t think about it were the best.</p>
<h3>Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?</h3>
<p>I would recommend this program and any program that EF does to everyone and anyone. Especially people who are struggling with the idea of college. Whether they are about to start or in the middle.</p>
<p>Take a break, you need it. School will always be there no matter what. These experiences that I got from traveling have been literally life changing. Take that chance.</p>
<h3>What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?</h3>
<p>The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is learning the difference in cultures and adapting to your surroundings. It’s like learning common sense again but in different countries. There are rights and wrongs and you learn by experience.</p>
<p>Look around when you go out, what do they do, how they present themselves. It is a skill that will help you in future travels and day to day.</p>
<h3>Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?</h3>
<p>I feel happier. I feel more confident. I have an idea of how to kick start my life again and I know how to do it.</p>
<p>As long as all the cards fall into place, I will do just that. I am ready to finish my degree and also on my own terms. No matter what, I will find a healthier way to go about school. Even if it means transferring schools.</p>
<h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h3>
<p>To me, meaning travel means taking home something you learned abroad and applying it to your daily life. It could be healthier living, being more adventurous, being kind to others, exploring around your hometown, and even making more friends.</p>
<p>It depends on the person and their own experience but for me learning from the past and only looking to the future. Don’t live in the past.</p>


Caoimhe Flood

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Caoimhe Flood who participated in EF Gap Year program.

Caoimhe Flood | EF Gap Year Alumni Interview

EF Gap Year Alumni Interview with Caoimhe Flood


<h3>What inspired you to travel abroad?&nbsp;</h3><p>When I was in high school, I never seriously considered taking time off from school. I started college at Chapman University in the fall of 2018. Unfortunately, my semester did not go as planned. I was unhappy with my major, did not make many friends, and was overwhelmed. I knew I wanted to transfer schools, but I wouldn't be able to start again until the fall semester. I decided to take a gap semester because I felt was lacking purpose in college. I wanted to travel and expand my world as much as possible. I knew that traveling and volunteering would help me feel as if I was making a difference, and allow me to have a better start at university in the fall.&nbsp;</p><h3>Why did you choose <a href="https://www.goabroad.com/providers/arcc-programs" title="" data-contentlink="85450">ARCC Programs</a>?&nbsp;</h3><p>ARCC Programs is one of the last gap year organizations I found. I planned my gap year very last minute, so many of my initial options fell through. I knew I wanted a program that would combine cultural immersion, volunteer work, education, and adventure. There was truly no other program that matched my criteria the way ARCC did. The administration was accommodating and the sense of family was real.&nbsp;</p><figure class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://www5.goabroad.com/images/interviews/1-edited-1565658652.png" alt="Group photo with view&amp;nbsp;"><figcaption class="caption"><p>Climbing mountains and getting to know wonderful people!</p></figcaption></figure><h3>What was your favorite part of your program?&nbsp;</h3><p>I chose my program because of the sheer amount of places we would see. I traveled through countless cities in five countries (including layovers) and encountered so many unique villages. In Indonesia, I learned the language and was able to communicate with the locals. They were encouraging and helped me better my linguistics. In Fiji, I immediately felt valued and welcomed by the people.&nbsp;</p><h3>What made your experience abroad extraordinary?&nbsp;</h3><blockquote>The key ingredients to a great gap year or semester come from within. First of all, when gapping, one has to be open-minded to whatever happens. Accidents, snafus, and misunderstandings are commonplace. Travelers who have the best experiences are those who are willing to learn and are cognizant of the uniqueness of their surroundings. The best memories I have of my trip were not the planned out moments, but the joy I found in being spontaneous.&nbsp;</blockquote><h3>How did the local program staff support you throughout <a href="https://www.goabroad.com/providers/arcc-programs/programs/arcc-gap-semester-pacific-islands-fiji-sumatra-bali-158780" title="" data-contentlink="85451">ARCC Gap Semester: Pacific Islands (Fiji, Sumatra, Bali)</a>?&nbsp;</h3><p>Meeting our guides in each new place was always strange at first, but the more you get to know someone from another country, you realize that what we have in common far outweighs our differences. Our guides became our family. Every night, we played music and sang songs, and every day, we taught each other new things about our home towns. Many of the people you meet when traveling will never have the opportunity to travel to your home town, so your interaction is the closest thing they will ever get to see the world.&nbsp;</p><h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?&nbsp;</h3><p>I wish I had been more honest with my feelings and myself. I remember being petty and holding grudges or arguing about silly things with my gap group. of course, after two or three months of travel, everybody gets tired of one another at some point, but we didn't think of how hard it would be to eventually say goodbye.&nbsp;</p><h3>Describe what a typical day abroad looked like.&nbsp;</h3><p>Honesty and self-reflection were instrumental in my group. Days began and ended with group meals in which we would reflect, talk, or play games. This set up a foundation for the day ahead and often made a difference in attitude. Normally, our activities began after breakfast. These sometimes included volunteer work, adventuring, hiking, or teaching. By lunchtime, we would take a break, and return to our activity by mid-afternoon. In many countries outside of America, schedules are much more relaxed. If it was hot and we took breaks from our work or goof off, and both were perfectly acceptable. By early evening, we would have our own time, and we would come together to chat or learn from our guide books.&nbsp;</p><figure class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://www5.goabroad.com/images/interviews/2-edited-1565660148.png" alt="Group photo"><figcaption class="caption"><p>A gap year isn't just about the places you travel to, it's about the people you experience it with that teach you a lot about yourself.</p><p></p></figcaption></figure><h3>What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?&nbsp;</h3><p>I enjoyed waking up early, before the rest of my group, to have time to sit outside and think. I often took walks, checked my emails, or called home. As an introvert, I was worried that I wouldn't get enough alone time. I was actually surprised by how much I controlled my own time. I also felt that I did not need as much alone time as I thought. I was content spending downtime talking to my friends, helping cook meals, or even getting to know the locals. I also kept a well-annotated journal. Although it was tedious, I feel beyond grateful that I've been able to preserve these beyond valuable memories.&nbsp;</p><h3>What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?&nbsp;</h3><p>After a week of homestays, we typically had a night or two in a hotel. This pattern of cultural immersion followed by time in a hotel or inn helped make homestays more enjoyable. The families we stayed with did not speak any English, and communicating was tough. Even though I taught myself rudimentary Bahasa (The language of Indonesia) I still had difficulty. When we stayed in towns, we were usually able to treat ourselves to western food, and more adventurous activities. If we did not have a balance between cultural immersion and city time, the value may have been lost.</p><h3>What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?&nbsp;</h3><p>A semester or a year is slow enough to not spend every moment trying to do something new but quick enough to force you to make the most of your time.&nbsp;</p><h3>Would you recommend ARCC Programs to others? Why?&nbsp;</h3><p>I believe ARCC&rsquo;s programs are well organized, have wonderful itineraries, and un-matched. I believe that you should travel with ARCC if you are naturally curious, looking to find clarity in any aspect of your life, are a team player, and are willing to work hard. However, I don't think a gap semester is necessary for absolutely everybody. I've definitely met people who have taken gap travel time for the wrong reason. Because of this, they did not have an eye-opening experience and they did not learn to respect the culture. If you're looking forward to a gap semester just to post pictures of yourself on Instagram, keep searching.&nbsp;</p><h3>What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?&nbsp;</h3><p>I feel much more focused and ready to begin at a new university. Having seen such unique and seldom traveled to destinations, I've developed a much broader sense of how massive and complex the world is. However, my eyes are much more opened to the problems and challenges of our international world, including climate change, poverty, education, and hunger. Being aware and active in these issues helps to make you a well-rounded person and a global citizen.</p><figure class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://www5.goabroad.com/images/interviews/4-edited-1565661433.png" alt="Group photo"><figcaption class="caption"><p>Taking a gap year means educating yourself about what exists in the world around you.&nbsp;</p></figcaption></figure><h3>Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?&nbsp;</h3><p>Every day, I think about how much I miss my trip, and how I want to plan another exotic travel. In some ways, this is a blessing. However, I can not stay focused on the past forever. I certainly cherish my time abroad and wish I was back there, but I have to keep moving forward. As excited as I am for the next opportunity to travel, I also can't spend every minute focused on my next big adventure. The hardest part of returning from a gap semester is learning not to live in the past or future but in the moment.&nbsp;</p><h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?&nbsp;</h3><p>Tourism is a major industry in many foreign companies, and by visiting new places, you are helping that economy. One rule that ARCC refers to is that travel is not about others making you comfortable, but about you making locals comfortable through following customs and cultures. The most meaningful travel to me is when I connect with locals and make friends. I feel that the best way to do this is to leave the beaten path and make your own adventure.</p>


Drew Beasley

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Drew Beasley who participated in ARCC Programs program.

Drew Beasley | ARCC Programs Alumni Interview

Drew Beasley - 2019 Participant

<h3>What inspired you to travel abroad?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>I was having trouble succeeding at my engineering school during my first semester. They said, “Hey, if you're having trouble you can leave at anytime while you're still in good standing and we will welcome you back with open arms—we stand by those we have admitted.” I thought about it and said, “Hmm, okay!” I then went to my local community college to learn how to succeed in college without so much on the line; I improved and did better that next semester but it didn't feel like it was time to go back to engineering school yet. Something was in the air...so I looked into gap year programs.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/interviews/alexander-gagliardo1-1556612890.jpg" alt="Idaho at sunset"><div class="caption"><p>River near my apartment at sunset</p></div></div>
<h3>Why did you choose InnerPathWorks?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>I was working with a consultant to make a string of programs that would span a year. This one piqued my interest and I was encouraged to call and talk to Randy and his former students before making a decision. When I talked to Randy there was something so electrifying and exciting I just couldn't wait to get there and learn; I felt that this man really had something to teach and share with me.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What was your favorite part about Idaho?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is absolutely beautiful. I was living in an apartment during this time and everyday during the summer and fall I was there it seemed like so many people were outside all the time enjoying the outdoors in the ways they liked best. The city itself is very picturesque in the downtown area—lots of lovely shops and businesses, great parks, a library, a stunning lake, free buses, biking trails, etc. I can only say it's something you'll want to see for yourself.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What made your experience abroad extraordinary?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>The people, places, adventures, and discoveries.</p>
<p><span style="color: inherit;font-size: 21px;font-family: inherit;"><strong>How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? </strong></span><br></p>
<p>They show support by allowing you the space to chose how you spend your external time and the freedom to make and learn from mistakes. They trust that you will understand and figure things out as you need and assist with a subtle push when necessary.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>I wish I had spent a little more time there and dug that much deeper.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned " ><img src="https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/interviews/alexander-gagliardo3-1556612921.jpg" alt="Alex on a bike"><div class="caption"><p>The bike!</p></div></div>
<h3>Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Awaken! I could maybe watch the sunrise, then hurry to make and eat breakfast before rushing out the door half-awake with my housemate. The drive was about 7-14 minutes and then we arrived with either a few minutes to spare or a few minutes late, running across the atrium's bridge to a waiting and knowing Coyote. Then we'd have a gratitude ceremony or game of sorts to start the day.</p>
<p>After that, it all depended on what Randy's students needed at the time to learn best; sometimes we'd do some class, work things, or play a board game. Other times we'd hop in Randy's truck, go for a ride along the lake, and go to a camp or woods where we'd play games and build things. Sometimes we'd go into town and shenanigans would follow, and other times we'd be given a mission of sorts to fulfill for that day. It really depends on you and your fellow students—he's got lots of things up his sleeve.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>I watched some TV through online streaming services, and played a few games, but that was largely forgettable. What was unforgettable was finding treasure in my apartment’s dumpster—a few different cool things here and there, but the crown jewel was this little girl’s bike I found. Now, I'm a boy so I found it comical that I was able to ride this little pink and white bike around the neighborhood. But man, I loved that bike. We'd go ride down to the river waving to the people out and about, or cruise the apartment complex's hills. Often we'd go to this little BMX course that a local business so graciously let be built on a parcel of their unused land. I would ride the rail trail, explore construction sites, and towards the end as the snow started to come I even added chains to the tires in an attempt to get better traction.</p>
<p>Another thing I liked to do was cook. I would buy lots of ingredients at this awesome local store called Winco, which is employee-run, and like a combination of Costco and a grocery store with no membership fees and great prices. I'd experiment in the kitchen, trying and creating whatever my heart desired as I'd usually be the only one eating the food I was free to create as I pleased. Let me just say what you chose to do with your time could be wildly different than what I chose—it is what you make it, after all.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>I stayed in an apartment, and I liked that I had a nice, safe place to sleep, my own bathroom, a full kitchen, and a living room to hangout in. What I liked best though was the location—there were other apartments nearby, a river with seasonal swimming, and a rail trail. Plus, right next door was the local ice rink, so it was cool to see games there or skate around.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Randy is a coyote teacher. Show up, participate, do your best, and empty your cup.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/interviews/alexander-gagliardo2-1556612951.jpg" alt="Idaho at sunset"><div class="caption"><p>Magic awaits (seriously, this photo isn't edited!)</p></div></div>
<h3>Would you recommend InnerPathWorks to others? Why?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>YES!! If you're thinking about this program and it calls to you or you have a gut feeling, that's all you need—GO. Otherwise, Randy is a great, experienced teacher. He himself doesn't know every skill, but he excels at helping you find and discover what really gets you excited, and at connecting you to teachers and mentors who do know those skills and can help you learn. Working with Randy you'll discover new paths and possibilities you didn't even know existed. I'd recommend keeping an open mind and deciding for yourself if some bit of knowledge is useful and worth keeping.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>The biggest benefits are what you will learn, how you will grow, and the adventures you will have both today and tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Immensely! I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for the time I spent with Randy. It has led me to the next stage of learning and growing.</p>
<p><span style="color: inherit;font-size: 21px;font-family: inherit;"><strong>What does meaningful travel mean to you? </strong></span><br></p>
<p>Meaningful travel means to connect to a place in some small way and have a positive effect on those around you, so that without your traveling, things wouldn't be quite the same, be it you or the place.</p>
<p><br></p>


Alexander Gagliardo

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Alexander Gagliardo who participated in InnerPathWorks program.

Alexander Gagliardo | InnerPathWorks Alumni Interview

InnerPathWorks Alumni Interview with Alexander Gagliardo

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